Vacuum cleaner nozzle



Oct. 1, 1940. KRQENLEIN' 2,216,275

VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Filed June 15, 1.936

f/erzry fl/ mm Iain BY m 1 fag ATTORNEY5 Patented Oct. 1, 1940 VACUUM CLEANER NOZZLE Henry A. Kroenlein, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Progress Vacuum Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 15, 1936, "Serial No. 85,309

struction for a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a means in the nozzle for the vacuum pick-up of matter of the general character of lint, thread, hairs, etc. Another object of the invention is to provide means for mounting a pivoted vacuum envelope on the nozzle body whereby objectional projections such as studs, springs and fasteners are eliminated from the exterior surface of the nozzle, but instead are concealed in the interior thereof. Still another object of the invention is to provide means on the nozzle body counteracting the tendency of the manipulating force exerted on the nozzle to rotate the latter and lift its marginal edges out of contact with the floor surface or the like which is being cleaned. Additional objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the following .descrip tion proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting,'however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention maybe used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a bottom planview of the nozzle embodying the principle of my invention; Fig. 2

is a longitudinal 'sectiontaken upon a plane normal to that of Fig. 1 and substantially'along line 2-2 thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse central section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is another transverse section taken along line 4-1 of Fig. 2.

Now referring more particularly to the drawing, the nozzle as shown therein consists of a body portion I enclosing a vacuum chamber 2 whose bottom side is ,open and adapted to be placed in communication with the surface'such as a floor or the like, over which the nozzle is to be moved for cleaning purposes. An elongated opening 3 in the upper side of the body portion I of the nozzle communicates with the vacuum envelope 4. The vacuum envelope 4 has a tubular portion 5 adapted to be connected to a flexible hose or tube (not shown) leading to the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum enveloped in turn has an open side a which fits over the elongated opening 3 in the body portion l of the nozzle. The envelope Q has laterally extending flanges 8 which are of curved cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, in order to conform with the contour of the top of the body portion I. A pair of clamping members I each'having a laterally projecting flange 8 and shoulder 9 for the accommodation of the flange B, are positioned on the top of the body portion I. The members I are yieldably held in position by the bolts I0 passing through the wall of the body portion-I and extending into the vacuum chamber 2. Coiled compression springs II are mounted between the inner wall of the body portion I and the nuts I2 on theend of the bolts I0.

It will thus be seen that by virtue of the above-described construction, the vacuum en,- velope 4 is pivotally movable to various angular positions with respect to the body portion I of the nozzle. The vacuum envelope t is held in position on the nozzle by means of the yieldably or resiliently mounted members i which exert a suflicient clamping action to hold the manifold t in position, but not too great .a clamping force in the event that particles of dirt or foreign matter should become lodged between the moving surfaces between the envelope 4 and body portion I, and thereby might tend to bind the pivotal movement of the envelope 4. The bolts I0, springs II and nuts I! being disposed in the interior of the nozzle, eliminate any disadvantageous projections which might become caught or entangled in cloths or fabrics, or might damage or scratch therewith.

Located on the bottom face of the nozzle and surrounding the open side of the vacuum chamber 2, are the laterally extending flanges It whose bottom faces I4 are adapted to contact with the surface over which the nozzle is moved. It will be noted that the width of the flange I3 is substantially equal to the width of the open side of the vacuum chamber 2. The flanges l3 are constructed of such dimensions in order to provide bearing supports for the nozzle which are sufficient to counteract the tendency of the nozzle to rotate about its front or rear edges when manipulating force isapplied. It has been found that the relative proportions of the widths of the open side of the vacuum chamber 2 and of the flanges I3 is particularly eflicient. The vacuum exerted through the open side of'the vacuum chamber 2 of course tends to draw and hold the nozzle against the floor surface. The amount of this holding force is in direct proportion to the area of the, open side of the vacuum chamber 2. The

articles of furniture when coming in contact the nozzle back and forth over the floor surface, and hence a proportionately large bearing surface I as provided by the flanges I 3 will be required in order to prevent rotation and lifting of the edges of the nozzle. The proportions of the sizes of the vacuum chamber 2- and flanges l3, as shown and specified, have been designed and have been found to be an optimum for accommodating these various factors and condi'- tions of operation just enumerated.

A passage or opening [5 is provided in the bottom side of one of the flanges l3. A downwardly depending lip l6 extends across the outer end of the opening l5 and terminates a slight distance short of the bottom surface ll. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the passage I5 is of tapered or gradually increasing cross sectional dimension from its outer edge to its inner end where it communicates with the vacuum chamber 2. Thus between the bottomedge of the lip l6 and the floor surface, there is provided a constricted space or opening through which the air sucked through the nozzle travels at increased velocity and in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the floor, as in-' dicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. By reason of this particular direction oftravel of the incoming air, and its increased velocity, such particles of dirt and foreign matter such as lint, threads, hair, etc. can be efficiently picked up by the vacuum cleaner nozzle. Such particles, due to their particular shape, tend to adhere to the nap of a rug for example and present very little proportionate surface for the vacuum action and hence cannot be easily sucked into the nozzle by that portion of the air stream which travels in a substantially vertical direction upwardly into the vacuum chamber 2. Therefore, the provision of the means for increasing the velocity of the incoming air into the nozzle and the change of its direction into one substantially parallel to that of the surface to be cleaned, successfully and efficiently .picks up such particles as lint, hair and thread with an action analogous to that of sweeping.

The inwardly tapered or gradually increasing passesunder the lip II, but also to provide a gradually enlarged passageway which will not tend to jam or clog the particles of lint, thread and hair once they have entered the nozzle.

A brush consisting of the supporting back ll and bristles I8 is 'mounted in a recess IS in the side of the vacuum chamber 2 opposite to that of the opening l5. Suitable fastening screws 20 hold the back H in such position. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the bristles N3 of the brush are substantially co-extensive with the length of and in alignment with the opening l5. As the nozzle is moved back and forth over the surface to be cleaned, the bristles l8 of the brush serve the function of initially loosening any lint, hair or thread particles which are subsequently picked up through the opening 15. An equivalent brushing means may of course be substituted in place of the bristles just described. Such equivalent brushing means may consist of a comb or the like.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

A vacuum cleaner nozzle comprising an elongated interior vacuum chamber having an open side adapted to communicate with the floor surface or the like to be cleaned, marginal flanges located on each side of said open side, said flanges being of a width substantially equal to that of said open side and presenting a flat bottom surface lying in a single horizontal plane, with the exception of a portion in one of said flanges having a bottom wall slightly elevated above said horizontal plane to form a horizontal air passage from the outer to the inner edge of said last-named flange, and a lip relatively narrow with respect to the width of said passage depending into the outer end of said passage and terminating short of said flat bottom surface of said flanges, said passage being of gradually increasing cross sectional area from the outer to the inner edge of said marginal portion.

1 HENRY A. KROENLEIN. 

